The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-03-26
THE NATIONAL DRILL.

The Gathering of the Militia From All Sec
lions of the Country to Participate in the
National Competitive Drill at Washing
ton An Assured Success-The Prepare
lions. for the Accommodation of Soldiers
and Civilians.
WASHINGTON, March 21-The National
orlll commencing here on May % and end
ing on the Both of that month-Decoration
Day-with the grand combination parade
OF the National Guardsmen and the Grand
Army of the Republic, is no longer an ex-
perimental affair, but fixed and assured
success, both in the unequaled crowds of
eXcursionists and visitors from civil life
sure to be drawn here by its varied feat
ures Details Of the distribution of
E6,5OO in cash prizes, besides stands of
colors, gold and silver and bronze
medals and special medals and plate
trophies, have already been mentioned in
these dispatches. Thirty-six States are
represented in the applications already
received, and letters have been received
from the Governors of sixteen States, in
reply to circular sent out asking their
views as to the utility of the encampmeut
and drill and as to their interest in the re-
view on Governors day. Singular
unanimity of approval Of the subject and
OF the Governors day feature of the drill
marked these letters, most of them bear
ing strongly upon the National and
fraternal spirit in which the drill has been
conceived and managed.
The grounds for the camp are the mon
ument grounds lying around the Wash.
lngton monument and the drill ground is
the beautiful level ellipse, lying justsouth
of the Presidents mansion, known as the
''white LOTT This level plain, one-half
mile in circumference. will be fenced in,
and stands sufficient to seat from thirty
to thirty-ive thousand persons will be
| erected. Here, during the time of the drill,
will be held daily contests to prove the
excellence of the citizen soldiery in in
fantry, artillery, cavalry and zOuave tao
tics.
Cadet corps of military schools will also
drill for prizes; and bands and drum-corps
will be in attendance fromthe North, South,
East and West Each evening there will
be a grand brigade dress parade, and on
Governors Day, and Memorial Day, the
entire army corps from camp. George
Washington" will make public parades
upon the broad avenues of the National
Capital. Nothing like this drill has SC
agitated the people of Washington for
years, and from all parts Of the country
come reports that the flower of the citizen
soldiery are coming, and with these will
come throngs of civilians.
A bureau of information and comfort
has been organized, and visitors need fear
neither lack Of accommodations nor eX-
tortion for it.
Among the champion crack companies
so far formally entered are the Montgom-
cry Greys Vicksburg Southrons, St Pau
Company 3D. Indianapolis Light Infant
ry, San Antonio Rifles, Richmond Greys
Milwaukee Light Horse, Atlanta Rifles
Company b, Twenty-third New York reg
iment, Lomax Rifles, the Muscatines, OF
Iowa, the famous Houstons, the Chicka
saws, Louisville Legion, Montgomery
True Blues, the Lynchburg Home Guards
and the Troy IN. W Citizens Corps. A
brigade from Virginia, regiments and bat
taliOns from North Carolina, Ohio, Mich
gan, Iowa. Kentucky and Rhode ISLAND
are informally entered.
Managing Secretary De Leon hesitates
until after April l, the day fixed for the
closing of entries, about estimating the
number of soldiers that will occupy tents
in camp George Washington" but {
rough estimate places the number any
where between ten and twenty thou